YAOUNDE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has signed a decree issuing a set of regulations to protect minors.
The decree, published by Information and Press Office of Equatorial Guinea on Friday night, comprises 25 articles.
Movement of minors through the streets, squares, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, pubs, casinos and cinemas without a guardian is prohibited in the Central African nation, according to the decree.
The document also prohibits parents, guardians and other family members from using minors for operations in bars, grocery stores, street vending, vehicle washing, as well as any other type of business and at any time.
Travel by unaccompanied minors is banned throughout the territory, whether by air, land or sea, the document said.
All students under 12 years of age must be accompanied by their parents, guardians or duly authorized persons during entry and exit from the school, the decree said and stressed that learning establishments and hospitals need to take special measures to protect minors.
The decree was issued after "serious worrying events recorded in several cities in our country, with minors as victims", Information and Press Office of Equatorial Guinea said.
In October, the country's Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue raised concerns after police reported that 16 children went missing and two others died in the Central African nation. ■